Industry Executives Speak Out at White House

Pamela Lendzion, Executive Director of the American Boat Builders and Repairers Association and Susan Swanton, Executive Director of the Maine Marine Trades Association joined a group of colleagues in Washington DC to discuss their proposals designed to remove barriers to work-based learning for small businesses in the recreational marine industry.
In early February, as part of the Business Leaders United (BLU) advocacy meeting Lendzion and Swanton met at the White House with members of the Administration’s National Economic Council (NEC) including Deputy Director Jacob Leibenluft; and Senior Policy Advisors JJ Raynor; and Ryan Burke. The NEC looked to BLU to discuss strategies for developing the Administration’s work-based learning efforts – in particular, they were eager to hear ideas on how to make funding for work-based learning flexible enough for small and medium employers. BLU employers shared suggestions related to the use of industry intermediaries, wage subsidies and tax credits, and long term training costs. Lendzion recommended a reduction in payroll taxes for small business employers paying for training. Both Swanton and Lendzion spoke up about the intermediary role trade associations can play to help their members access the necessary training and training funds as well as navigate the process. The BLU employers were confident their meeting would have an impact on any action the Administration takes regarding work-based learning. “I felt that the NEC staff understood our issues and were sympathetic to the needs of our businesses as they struggle to find trained workers and upskill incumbents” said Swanton after the meeting.